$2 million allocated to Narcotics Bureau, Govt sets tax holiday for drug rehab centre setup

To fight drugs, $2 million has been allocated in the 2024/2025 National Budget to establish a Narcotics Bureau within the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad says the Narcotics Bureau will focus on law enforcement; investigations; prosecution; intelligence gathering; and conducting awareness in collaboration with key agencies.

Professor Prasad says the Ministry of Home Affairs has also launched the Counter Narcotics Strategy 2023-2028 with a focus on seven strategic areas, including demand reduction, supply reduction, harm reduction, legal reform, data collection, establishment of a Drug Court, and partnership and international cooperation.

For the set up of drug rehabilitation centres in Fiji, the government has introduced a tax holiday of 13 years, including duty free importation of capital goods required for the establishment of the centre.

They are also going to provide a full tax deduction for businesses that donate to any drug rehabilitation centre. Professor Prasad says whilst they encourage non-governmental organisations, the government is also exploring options for the setup of such centres.

$226.8 million is provided to our Police Force, an increase of $41.7 million.

He says the government is initiating a ‘full reset’ of the Fiji Police Force towards law enforcement.

The Police Reset Strategy would broadly include: development of a new overarching strategy for the Fiji Police Force aimed to modernize the Force through right-sizing and stirring a shift in culture.

Professor Prasad says they are grateful for the support from the Australian Government to help build capacity.

A new MOU will be established between the Fiji Police Force and the Australian Federal Police which will see Australian Federal Police Officers embedded within the Fiji Police Force, and appointment of a mentor to support the new Police Commissioner.

He says through this Police Reset Strategy, the coalition government is committed towards building a police force that serves and protects all members of the society with efficiency, fairness, reasonableness, courtesy, respect and without discrimination or harassment.

Meanwhile Professor Prasad says the Republic of Fiji Military Forces plays an important role in ensuring the safety and security of our nation and supports international peacekeeping.

RFMF is allocated $169.6 million in the new budget.